SINGAPORE - These young scientists hail from different parts of Asia and from different fields of studies – ranging from security and privacy of data science to immunology and integrated cell-material sciences.

       But their intention is the same – move their studies from lab to the real world.

       To learn how to, these young researchers, who were awarded the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship in 2023 and 2024, attended a forum where they were able to seek guidance from various experts.

       Titled From Scientific Innovation to Future Technologies, The Future Science Forum was held at the COM3@Imagination Ridge in the NUS campus on Nov 5.

       It was co-organised by NUS and The Future Science, a non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the advancement of science through philanthropy.

       Mr Richard Liu, a founding partner of 5Y Capital, donor of the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship and Director of The Future Science, said: “Singapore’s strategic position allows us to play a pivotal role in fostering global collaboration and driving scientific progress.

       “It is our vision to build a platform that crosses not just geographic boundaries but also disciplinary lines, pushing forward scientific and technological innovation for the betterment of society as a whole.”

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       Dr Wu Wei, who was awarded the Asian Young Scientist Fellowship in 2024 in Hong Kong on Oct 31, said it was exciting as “research in many different domains were discussed”.

       “This networking fosters a shift in mindset. The more experienced scientists were able to provide guidance in workshops and forums such as this,” said Dr Wu, whose research is focused on identifying novel tumour-surface signatures that may be treated using immunotherapy, which uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer.

       Tumour-surface signature is the information about the activity of a specific group of genes in a cell or tissue.

       Agreeing, fellow Asian Young Scientist 2024, Dr Liu Ziwei said: “This forum gives us the opportunity to connect with other scientists from South-east Asia. There is also the possibility of the different areas of science collaborating for a better mankind.”

       Both Dr Wu, a Singaporean, and Dr Liu were among the 12 outstanding young scientists who received their fellowship in 2024.

       The Asian Young Scientist Fellowship was launched in 2023 as the core initiative of Future Science to support outstanding early-career scientists across Asia to conduct creative and transformative research.

       It provides US$100,000 (S$131,000) over two years to support the fellows’ research at his or her home institution.

       Also participating at the same forum were Dr Daishi Fujita, an associate professor with the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences and Institute for Advanced Study at Kyoto University, and Dr Reza Shokri, an NUS Presidential Young Professor of Computer Science, from the inaugural 2023 Asian Young Scientist Fellowship.

       Dr Fujita, whose research is on the protection of protein, told The Straits Times that being at the forum “would be perfect for me to network and collaborate with fellow scientists in the field of information”.

       Dr Shokri, whose research is on building trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), led a team devoted to crafting AI systems that champion data privacy, and maintain transparency in their operations.

       “When it comes to AI, the usual route is from the West to Asia. I hope with my work it would be top down research coming from this part of the world to the rest,” he said.

       He and the other fellows presented their works that won them the fellowship to the panel of experts.